What’s Happening This Week in Wichita (Sept. 25-Oct. 1)

Searching for ideas on what to do in Wichita this week or what’s ahead? We got you covered with What’s Happening This Week In Wichita.

What’s Happening This Week In Wichita is made possible by the Wichita Event Calendar

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FEATURED EVENTS

■ Don Hattan West Grand Opening | September 28
Where: Don Hattan West
Come join us for Don Hattan West’s Grand Opening and Hometown Favorites Car Show! This come-and-go event will also feature food, drinks, and live music from Harrison Steele.

■ Greater Andover Days 2023 | September 28 – October 1
Where: Andover Central Park
Greater Andover Days is held in Andover on September 28 – October 1. Join us for food trucks, live entertainment, children’s activities, yard games, car show, jeep night, art show, corn hole tournament, golf tournament, bingo, pickleball tournament. parade, fireworks, and the list goes on! Buttons and wristbands are on sale now – September 28 for $3 at a variety of locations including Andover Public Library, Andover City Hall, South Central Mental Health, Dillons in Andover, Andover State Bank, Andover Area Chamber of Commerce, K. Westphal Jewelers, Andover Senior Center. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Andover Senior Center

■ GNOME w/ Bonehawk Live at Nortons | September 29
Where: Nortons Brewing Company
You’re not gonna want to miss this banger! GNOME is bringing their 3-piece stoner rock all the way from Antwerp, to our beer garden stage! We’re bringing in a special lineup of Belgian beers for this event, from Duvel, La Chouffe, and Orval, as well as tapping our Honey Belgian Tripel! We’ll be reveling in the Ambrosius, and the Kraken Wanker all night! Joined by Kalamazoo, MI psychadelic fuzz bad asses – Bonehawk! This is going to be an epic n night of music and beer!

BEST THINGS TO DO

■ Behind The Bar: Guest Bartending at the Monarch | September 25
Where: The Monarch
Behind The Bar is back! As is the custom, we’ve invited someone (or in this case a few people) that are special to us to have some fun and raise money for a charity that is near and dear to their hearts. For this instalment, we’ll have representative from the United Way showcasing their skills as they wrap up a month of celebrating 100 years of hard work in our community. We’re excited to welcome Pete Najera, Abel Fredric, Ron Baker and Sheree Utash as they pour drinks in honor of this great organization.

■ Activate: Leading with Purpose Panel Discussion | September 25
Where: Flying Pig Improv
Three prominent Wichita Women share how to stand up for what you believe in and lead others to do the same at the September 25 panel for Activate: Leading with Purpose Panel Discussion! Claudia Amaro, Julia Fabris McBride, and Melody Miller. It is from 6-8 p at the Flying Pig Improv, 3203 E. Douglas.

■ Whose Live Anyway? | September 26
Where: Orpheum Theatre
WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY? is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Cast members Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, Ryan Stiles, and Joel Murray will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes. Audience participation is key to the show, so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast onstage!

■ 1 Million Cups | September 27
Where: Groover Labs
1 Million Cups is a free, weekly national program designed to educate, engage, and connect entrepreneurs. Every Wednesday morning at 8:45 a.m., one or two early-stage startups present their companies to a diverse audience of their peers, mentors, educators, and advisors.

■ Voices from the Vault: The 2010s | September 28
Where: Ulrich Museum of Art
Voices from the Vault is a series of artist talks to celebrate the Ulrich’s 50th anniversary. We’ll begin our celebration of the 2010s with an artist talk by Chaz Guest, an American painter and sculptor of profound inventiveness known for capturing the raw essence of the universal human spirit. Guest’s vivid painting, The Tenth, was acquired by the Ulrich in 2022 and featured in the recent exhibition, Myths of the West: Narrating Stories of the Land and People Through Wichita Art Collections.

■ Lauren Daigle at INTRUST Bank Arena | September 28
Where: Intrust Bank Arena
Two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle announced her much-anticipated US arena tour, set for fall 2023, with entirely new and innovative stage production. The Kaleidoscope Tour will feature many of Daigle’s #1s, including her groundbreaking smash “You Say,” “Rescue”, “Look Up Child,” her new single “Thank God I Do”, as well as music from her forthcoming self-titled album which will include 20 songs released in two parts this spring and later this year.

■ Maize Farm & Art Market | September 28
Where: Clair Donnelly Amphitheater
We have an incredible lineup of vendors offering a wide variety of fresh produce, yummy refreshments, fine art, handcrafted items for your home, jewelry, and much, much more! This is a gathering of community where folks can shop, support other locals, and have a great time. Don’t forget to invite your friends, family, and neighbors…it’s going to be so much fun!

■ Insomnia Cookies Grand Opening and Give Back Event | September 29-30
Where: Insomnia Cookies
You’re invited to celebrate the grand opening of Insomnia Cookies in Wichita with the Kansas Food Bank! The day kicks off with a ribbon cutting at 11:00 AM, and the all-day Grand Opening will include free cookies, games and giveaways throughout the entire day and late into the night. To make it even sweeter, Insomnia Cookies will be donating 15% of the in-store sales from the full day (11am – 3am) to the Kansas Food Bank to help celebrate Hunger Action Month and feed our food insecure neighbors.

■ Final Friday Food Truck Rally | September 29
Where: Wichita Boathouse
Art. Music. Food. 20+ Food Trucks. Live Music with Dangie 316. Over 15 local artists & small business vendors will be set up inside and outside of the Wichita Boathouse.

■ Maidens of Mayhem | September 29
Where: Muse Meridian
The First Annual Maidens Of Mayhem featuring some of the heaviest woman fronted bands Wichita, KS has to offer.

■ Symphony on the Grand Lawn | September 29
Where: Botanica
Enjoy an evening under the stars with the Wichita Symphony at Botanica’s Grand Lawn and Stage. The concert will delight the whole family with a Superhero Soundtrack from all your favorites including The Avengers, Wonder Woman, The Incredibles, Superman, and more. Gates open at 6:30 PM. Stroll Botanica’s beautiful gardens as you make your way to the Grand Lawn for the 7:30 PM concert. Bring snacks and water, and cash bars will be available. There is no food service for this event.

■ Improv Show at Flying Pig Improv | September 29-30
Where: Flying Pig Improv
September is FULL of fun / funny / unexpected / one-of-a-kind improv shows at Flying Pig Improv!

■ Adult Skate Night | September 29
Where: Carousel Skate Center
Join us for Adult Night every Friday! Must be 21 with a Valid ID. $10 Cover (skates included). Beer & mixed drinks available. Check out our feature at what to expect here.

■ 23rd Annual Fall Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival | September 30 – October 1
Where: Sedgwick County Park
Come one, come all to the 23rd Annual Fall Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival! Wichita’s long standing fall tradition returns September 30th and October 1st, 2023 in Sedgwick County Park. Aye, there’ll be jests and jousts, falconry and fire breathing, damsels and daredevils, bagpipes and belly dancers, singing pirates, The Wichita Highland Games, Celtic music, kings and queens, Vikings and vagabonds, Kansas Authors Pavilion/renaissance in reading, fairies and fairy tales, fantastic artists, the siege engine competition marvelous merchants and much, much more!

■ Parkrun at Exploration Place | September 30
Where: Exploration Place
Join in on a free, fun and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it’s up to you! Exploration Place parkruns are fun, free events organized by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. Join us on Festival Plaza (park at Exploration Place and then follow the signs). The path goes along the river, over the Keeper bridge and back to the museum. We highly encourage all levels of walkers and runners. parkrun is for everyone!!

■ 3rd Annual Suspenders4Hope 5k Run and 1 Mile Memorial Walk | September 30
Where: Steve Clark YMCA
Join us for the 3rd Annual Suspenders4Hope 5k and 1 Mile walk to benefit StopSuicideICT, presented by Ascension Via Christi and the Steve Clark YMCA. Registration and check-in begin at 8:30 am with the 5k starting at 9 am. The race is an official, certified course on the beautiful Wichita State University Campus and will begin in the Steve Clark YMCA parking lot. Following the race, several speakers and awards will be given. The event will conclude with a 1 Mile Memorial Walk in honor of those who lost their lives to suicide. All registrants for the run and walk will receive a race t-shirt.

■ Blessed Sacrament Octoberfest & Run For the Poor | September 30
Where: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Morning fun run (5K) and all day Oktoberfest party with brauts, bierocks, beer, and live bands.

■ Wichita Brick Convention | September 30 – October 1
Where: Century II
WICHITA BRICK CONVENTION is coming to Century 2 Exhibition Hall in Wichita, KS on September 30 and October 1, 2023! BRICK CONVENTION is an event like no other and brings all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO® building and experiences together in one activity- and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests. A portion of the proceeds from each Brick Convention is donated to Creations for Charity. Creations for Charity is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that buy new LEGO sets for underprivileged children around the world during the holidays.

■ 2023 Wichita Children’s Business Fair | September 30
Where: Bradley Fair
This one-day marketplace gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own business. From developing a brand, creating a product/service, building a marketing strategy and selling to customers – young entrepreneurs do it all! Explore a variety of youth businesses including gourmet popcorn, homemade art, fidget toys, candles and much more.

■ Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff | September 30
Where: Downtown Wichita
Since the return to Douglas Avenue the crowds have responded in great numbers. And, the best part…the weather doesn’t matter! Hot, mild or even cold, it’s chili weather! We expect the crowd to be over 10,000 strong and all of them eager to taste some of the best chili in the Midwest! With teams from Kansas and surrounding states, the Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff has been a Wichita tradition for over 30 years. Since 2005 when the Wagonmasters took over the event and brought it back Downtown, the event has exploded with a renewed level of enthusiasm by contestants and attendees alike.

■ Prairieland Beer and Music Festival | September 30
Where: Hyde Park
Come enjoy unlimited samples of 100+ beers with 40+ breweries from Kansas and beyond, featuring LIVE music throughout the festival. This year the festival will be held under the shade of old growth trees in Hyde Park.

■ 2023 Wichita Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival | September 30
Where: Botanica
We sincerely invite all people who are interested to share our culture and tradition to join this joyful event. At that time, we will present food, tea ceremony, garden tour, calligraphy and other experiences. It is definitely a pleasure to visit the garden and take beautiful pictures with Chinese style! The detail had been updated to more accommodation to people who are interest in our culture and tradition.

■ Pumpkins at the Park | September 30
Where: Tanganyika Wildlife Park
We’re back with Pumpkins at the Park! That’s right – Pumpkins at the Park, Wichita’s largest Halloween event, returns this year for a spooky good time for the entire family EVERY Saturday in October, 6:00PM-10:00PM, and September 30th at 50% off to kick off this annual event! The nights in October are the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th.

■ Kansas Grown! Farmers Market | September 30
Where: 21st & Ridge Road
Enjoy over 100 local vendors supplying the market with delicious fruits, vegetables, meats, farm fresh eggs, hand harvested honey, baked goods, jams, jellies, salsas, fresh cut flowers, pet treats, unique artisan crafts, and more. Experience a true taste of local visiting with friendly growers, producers and artisans. Live music, cooking demonstrations, sample tastings, food trucks and local favorite Troubles the Clown are just some of the many features to see at our farmers’ market!

■ Old Town Farm & Art Market | September 30
Where: 835 E. 1st St.
Weekly destination for thousands of area residents and a must-see for visitors to the city. Wichita’s downtown Farm & Art Market since 1991! – Food, Arts, Artisan Goods, Live Music, Street Entertainers, and so much more.

■ Back to the 80s Gala | September 30
Where: Son Wray Ranch (Newton, KS)
A celebration for Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center with an 80s theme! Dinner, awards, drinks and dancing to celebrate this non-profits and the community that surrounds it.

■ Historic Hauntings | September 30
Where: Old Cowtown Museum
A guided ghost tour after dark at Old Cowtown! Hear stories of true haunts at the museum, watch filmed evidence Wichita Paranormal Research Society (WPRS) has discovered over the years, explore our historic buildings and see more evidence of the paranormal.

■ Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival | September 30
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Get off the beaten path and explore the edge of believable with captivating stories from the 47th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, coming to the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, September 30. Stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you in this year’s Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

■ FAAGW Barrio Fiesta – Celebration of Filipino Culture | September 30
Where: Sedgwick County Park
From noon to 5 p.m. at Sedgwick County Park, Sunflower Shelter 6501.

■ Sunday Sip & Shop | October 1
Where: Alzavino Wine Tavern
It’s our Halloween Sunday Sip & Shop! Come out and support various local vendors while sipping on incredible wine, bubbles and mimosas. And no worries…stick around after all your shopping and enjoy the patio (weather permitting) while you enjoy your drinks!

■ Concert at the Park | October 1
Where: High Park
Bring the whole family! Invite your friends! We’re ready for a Concert at the Park! Join Countryside on Sunday, October 1 at High Park in Derby for an evening of live music, food trucks, inflatables, and games. Keepers of the Mane will keep you singing all night with classic hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s, while you enjoy some of the best food trucks in the Wichita area! See you at 5:00 PM and don’t forget your lawn chairs.

View All Events On Our Calendar

September Happy Hours and Restaurant Specials

THIS WEEK’S FALL FESTIVALS

September 29 – 30
Oktoberfest
Where: Hays, KS
Oktoberfest in Hays boasts a wide range of traditional food, music, and drink. As always the festival coincides with homecoming weekend at Fort Hays State University.

September 30
Prairieland Beer and Music Festival
Where: Hyde Park
Come enjoy unlimited samples of 100+ beers with 40+ breweries from Kansas and beyond, featuring LIVE music throughout the festival. This year the festival will be held under the shade of old growth trees in Hyde Park across from Central Standard Brewing.

September 30
Oktoberfest
Where: Blessed Sacrament
The annual Oktoberfest at Church of the Blessed Sacrament includes a Run for the Poor, All day kids’ inflatable park, live music, beers on tap, Sauerkraut balls, brats & more!

September 30
Whimmydiddle
Where: Scott City, KS
Whimmydiddle Arts and Crafts Fair comes to Scott City Park on the last Saturday of every September. One of the largest craft shows in Western Kansas, this event features over 200 exhibitors from across the United States who arrive with original art, metal working, pottery and crafts in wood, fabric, jewelry, silk & dried flowers.

September 28 – October 1
Greater Andover Days
Where: Andover, KS
Greater Andover Days (GAD) is a festival that occurs the 4th weekend after Labor Day weekend. The event offers handfuls of fun, food, and entertainment for the entire family! Over 5,000 people attend GAD annually. The festival includes a food court, KidFest, parade, fishing clinic, car show, business expo/craft fair, carnival, live entertainment and a fireworks show in Central Park.

September 30
Wellington Fall Festival
Where: Wellington, KS
Come to Wellington on Saturday, September 30th for Wellington’s Annual Fall Festival ~ Flannel & Fall! There will be an Art & Craft Show with over 50 vendors, the annual Chili Cookoff Competition, Cinnamon Roll Contest, Apple Pie Contest, Mummy Races, Kid’s Activities, and more!

September 30 – October 1
23rd Annual Fall Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival 2023
Where: Sedgwick County Park
Come one, come all to the 23rd Annual Fall Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival! Wichita’s long standing fall tradition returns September 30th and October 1st, 2023 in Sedgwick County Park. Aye, there’ll be jests and jousts, falconry and fire breathing, damsels and daredevils, bagpipes and belly dancers, singing pirates, The Wichita Highland Games, Celtic music, kings and queens, Vikings and vagabonds, Kansas Authors Pavilion/renaissance in reading, fairies and fairy tales, fantastic artists, the siege engine competition marvelous merchants and much, much more!

VIEW UPCOMING FALL FESTIVALS

AROUND THE CORNER

■ Jack-o-lantern Spectacular | October 5
Where: Botanica
Celebrate the spooky season at Botanica’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular! Join us the first two weekends of October to marvel at over 1,000 Jack-o-lanterns carved by volunteer groups in the Wichita community. Each evening, family and friends will be captivated by talented aerial acrobatics and have their pulse race during the Haunted Woodland Walk. DJ Carbon will keep the beats pumping and food trucks will be available for an evening snack. Kids will enjoy a petting zoo, carousel rides and so much more at this family-friendly event. Ranging from spooky to fun, everyone will find something to enjoy!

■ Haunted Hops | October 12
Where: Botanica
Join us for the first Haunted Hops at Botanica on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Take a stroll through the haunted gardens while sipping on more than 15 spooky-themed craft beers and hard ciders provided by local and regional breweries. There will also be signature cocktails, mocktails and seasonal brews available throughout the gardens. Guests can sample small bites while enjoying live music by Annie Up and DJ Carbon. For football enthusiasts, there will also be several spaces around the gardens to watch the Chiefs vs. Broncos game.

LIVE MUSIC

Visit this week and the schedule for the weeks ahead at our Live Music Calendar.

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PERFORMING ARTS

Century II Performing Arts Center
■ October 7 | Leanne Morgan
■ October 12 | Wichita Wurlitzer Phantom of the Opera
■ October 14 | Beth Leavel

Crown Uptown Theatre
■ September 30 | Gunhild Carling with Big Band

Kechi Playhouse
■ Sept. 8 – Oct 1 | Snow Night

Mosley Street Melodrama
■ September 15 – October 28 | Nightmare on Mosley Street

Prairie Pines Playhouse
■ November 17 – December 23 | Holiday Show 2023!

Roxy’s Downtown
■ September 15 – November 4 | The Golden Girls

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FOOD TRUCKS

Did you know the food truck schedule is back? Check out this weekend’s list of food trucks right here!

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